Effects of the Patriot Act on Librarians

Quaryon writes "The Patriot Act apears to have some chilling effects with respect to libraries and booksellers. An FBI agent can get a warrant, without any evidence, in order to compel a librarian to reveal lending details on a suspect. The librarian cannot tell anyone about the search, including the target of the search, and the details of how many such searches are done are not made public. Articles at SFGate News and Common Dreams give more details." We had a related Ask Slashdot a few weeks ago.

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What If America Wasn't America?

[White Roses]

Anyone else seen these commercials? They are being put on by the Ad Council, presumably praising our freedoms and so on. One has a group of people worshipping in a basement and then sneaking off home. The commercial then poses the question, "What if America wasn't America?"

Another has a person trying to check a book out from the library. He is told that that particular book is no longer available. When he goes to leave, he is apprehended by two suits.

So, who is putting these commercials on television anyway? Do they have any idea that their commercials are coming to pass? Clearly, we're approaching the point where it's not a "what if" any more.

Their tagline: "Freedom. Appreciate it. Cherish it. Protect it."

They're taking away our first amendment rights. Maybe it's time to exercise our second amendment ones.